The Five Best Vegetable Choppers for Quick and Easy Meal Prep

When it comes to deciding which vegetable chopper is best for you and your kitchen there are a few factors you should take into consideration. The first and most important question you should ask yourself is whether you want a manual chopper or an electric vegetable chopper. While both have their own pros and cons, electric cutters are typically better for people who are short on time and need to create quick and easy meals. Manual choppers, on the other hand, take a little more effort but provide a wide range of cutting options such as slicing and grating that the electric options may not offer. Some other aspects that are worth considering include things like bowl capacity and speed settings (in the case of an electric chopper), as well as some additional features such as rubber non-skid bottoms and a wide range of blade designs for a variety of cutting options. In this guide, we’ll discuss these features in further detail and also answer some of the most commonly asked questions about vegetable choppers.

The Types of Vegetable Choppers and How They Work

While you may be familiar with the concept of a vegetable chopper, you still might be wondering what types of vegetable choppers exist and how they each work.

There are two main types of vegetable choppers on the market: Electric and manual. Electric choppers are generally equipped with a small yet heavy-duty motor to cut through thick, difficult vegetables (raw carrots, celery, potatoes, etc.) and deliver finely or roughly chopped vegetables. In contrast, manual vegetable choppers have no motor and require you to manually slide the vegetables across a sharp blade. Compared to electric choppers, these cutters are more popular and budget-friendly, being inexpensive and simpler in design. Manual vegetable choppers typically come with an assortment of blades that allow you to obtain a variety of different cuts. These mainly include small and large square choppers for dicing vegetables and cutting french fries; mandolin blades for creating slices; and graters for grating foods like cheese and carrots. As you cut the vegetables, the vegetable land inside a rectangular dish, the sizes of which vary, depending on the model. Choosing an electric or manual vegetable chopper will depend on the type of chopping you intend to do most, as well as the amount of time you have for meal prep.

What To Consider When Choosing a Vegetable Chopper?

Blades

Without high-quality and sturdy blades, a vegetable chopper will be practically useless and frustrating to use. When shopping for a vegetable chopper, we recommend considering models with blades made from hardened stainless steel with rust-resistant properties to withstand moisture and humidity. An ultra-durable and hard-wearing set of blades will offer you a long-lasting and trustworthy product. Blades that are not made from stainless steel will inevitably require premature replacements due to either deformation or rust.

Container capacity

If you’re planning on cutting up a bunch of vegetables in one go, either for meal prepping or to stock up on cut veggies in the freezer, we recommend considering the size and capacity of the vegetable chopper’s bowl. A large bowl is generally preferred over a smaller bowl because of its time-saving nature allowing you to cut up large batches of vegetables without constantly needing to transfer the cut vegetables into another larger bowl. On the other hand, if your vegetable chopper has a large container, it may make it difficult to store your chopper in a kitchen cabinet or situate it on your countertop if you have a small kitchen. The most popular size for the vegetable chopper is around 3 cups, which is more than enough to hold a decent amount of vegetables without causing you any inconvenience by being excessively large. However, if you’re a student and are typically cooking for just yourself, then a compact 1 cup chopper is plenty large enough for your vegetable needs and also will not take up too much precious countertop real estate.

Cost

While vegetable choppers aren’t necessarily expensive or costly items, the price can vary depending on the model you choose. Generally speaking, the price of a vegetable chopper usually ranges from anywhere between $10 to $40. That being said, if you’re on a tight budget, then purchasing a manual vegetable chopper instead of an electrical version is going to cost far less.

Choosing the Right Material for Your Vegetable Chopper

Glass

While glass isn’t the most popular material used for constructing vegetable choppers, it is preferred because of its durability and sturdiness. Vegetable choppers made from glass can also be heated, which makes steaming and cooking vegetables in the microwave simple. Although glass usually lasts longer than plastic if taken care of properly, it is significantly more expensive than plastic.

Plastic

Plastic is a sturdy yet lightweight material that is commonly preferred for vegetable choppers. This material is not easily breakable and can also be washed in the dishwasher, making clean-up easy and efficient. One downside to plastic is that it cannot be heated in the microwave; if heated, the material will deform and need to be replaced.

Cleaning and Maintenance: How To Give Your Vegetable Chopper a Long Life

When it comes to cleaning, a vegetable chopper made from plastic can efficiently be washed in the dishwasher, saving time and labor. The non-electric parts of an electric vegetable chopper that is made from plastic may also be washed in the dishwasher. However, if you want to extend your vegetable chopper’s life, we recommend hand washing the components of these small appliances, making the need to replace your chopper much less likely. If your blades become dull or deformed, consider only replacing the blades rather than the entire chopper if it is still in good shape.